Riley Balsawood Surfboards

Surfrider Foundation Australia are pleased to welcome Riley Balsawood Surfboards to the family.

Surfrider Foundation Australia thank Riley Balsawood Surfboards for their donation of four balsa blanks for our displays and for Auction at our recent fundraising events. The two balsa blanks raised over $1500 for Surfrider Foundation Australia.

Mark Riley, the masterind behind Riley Balsawood Surfboards, is actively involved in finding more environmentally friendly surfboards.

Balsawood In producing only balsawood surfboards, Riley Balsawood Surfboards have already taken a big step towards more environmentally friendly surfboards. A balsa wood tree grows very fast. After 3-4 years it already reaches a height of up to 10 metres and a diameter of 50-65 cm. The tree will not grow any more after this time (it actually dies) so it is best to harvest it then. At the time of cutting it, the balsa tree holds seeds in like a cotton wool ball and when it hits the ground the seeds are scattered on the ground. Usually there will be around 10 seeds which germinate from this (if not more).  Balsa wood is therefore highly sustainable and can be recycled.

In order to reduce their CO2 footprint Riley Balsawood Surfboards have started growing their own balsa trees near Cooktown, Queensland rather than importing it from Ecuador. Unfortunately the climate here in Australia is not as ideal as in Ecuador which means Riley Balsawood Surfboards will further have to import balsa wood from Ecuador. HoRiley Balsawood Surfboardsver, Riley Balsawood Surfboards import large quantities by the container and ship it here rather than importing small quantities via air transport.

Because the balsa substrate is stronger than the regular polyurethane blank – it requires less glass and less resin therefore reducing the impact on the environment.

Shaping

During the shaping process Riley Balsawood Surfboards don’t use harmful materials. In fact, on their solid surfboards the only waste is balsa and redwood saw dust (which is put into composting for the garden. Some small off cuts are given to schools.

Recycled polystyrene core Their foam core boards have a recycled polystyrene core (rather than a urethane core) which is safer for the shaper and the environment – it can be recycled again.  The glues Riley Balsawood Surfboards use contain no volatile or flammable ingredients. Riley Balsawood Surfboards recycle the sand paper after it is used in their machines. It is reused for hand sanding.

Riley Balsawood Surfboards are also currently working on an environmentally friendly resin. All of their fins, fin boxes, leash plugs are exclusively Australian made with balsa coltheiring. Their factory’s hot water is powered by solar energy.

Lasts longer

In addition to being less toxic, Riley surfboards is tried and tested to last at least 5 times longer than a board made out of traditional materials. This means less or no boards on landfills.

Riley’s Australian wide ctheirier uses “Carbon Neutral” to offset any emissions – by planting trees or purchasing Greenhouse Friendly Verified Emissions Reduction Units (VER’s). For all national and international orders Riley Balsawood Surfboards use recycled packaging – please do the right thing when receiving an order and either re-use the packaging or recycle it properly. All their file keeping is either electronic or printed on re-used paper. Instead of printing thousands of brochures – Riley Balsawood Surfboards use the email and internet to distribute their information. Riley Balsawood Surfboards do not send their newsletter via paper and post – but rather electronically.

More about shaper, Mark Riley

The History of Riley Balsawood Surfboards

Growing up near Melbourne and Sydney Mark Riley was drawn to surfing at an early age and spent the majority of his time in the water. After completing his carpentry apprenticeship and working several years in the trade Mark was ready for a change. He packed his bag and surfboards and was off on an extensive trip through Central and South America.

Two months into the trip Mark had broken both Polyurethane (PU) boards he had brought along. Having this frustrated experience in the back of his mind he stumbled upon balsa wood in Ecuador. The material was light, had great flex characteristics and grew on sustainable farms. Being a carpenter by trade Mark knocked up his first board then and there.

After the first trial sessions Mark saw the potential in the material – not just as solid balsa surfboards but also in the combination with foam.

12 months after leaving Australia Mark returned to Sydney – in tow a container of balsa sticks. Soon after, in April 1996, Riley Balsawood Surfboards was founded.

The company started making beautiful, high quality retro style 50′s and 60′s Malibus. On the side Mark tested combinations of balsa and foam on his private boards. Three years later Mark was convinced to have found a true alternative to polyurethane surfboards. Recycled EPS foam in combination with a 2-3mm balsa “skin” made the boards super light but also very strong. The boards felt great in the water and attracted much attention. Word of mouth spread fast and soon the order books were filled with solid Classics as well as a range of EPS core shortboards, fishes, minimals and high performance longboards.

Nowadays Mark is still the director of Riley Classic Balsa Boards. He is the head shaper and runs the whole operation of selecting the balsa wood in Ecuador, grading, cutting, laminating, shaping and finishing all orders. As Ecuadorian balsa is renowned for its superb quality we still import containers on a regular basis. As we are constantly trying to reduce our impact on the environment we have also started growing balsa trees here in Australia. We are very proud of hand crafting all our products right here in Australia.

In late 2007 Riley Balsawood Surfboards launched an instructional DVD in which Mark shares his balsa shaping secrets. After great response from the surfing community we soon later also released a downloadable E-book explaining in detail how a solid balsawood surfboard is made.

In 2008 Riley Balsawood Surfboards launched the first 100% organic cotton and Australian made t-shirt line.

Mark lives with his wife Lourdes and kids Sebby and Elyss in Miranda (Sydney, NSW). Email Mark at mark@riley.com.au